Peter and John Heal a Lame Man

Peter and John Heal a Lame Man • Lesson 10 Bible Point

Jesus helps us serve him.

Bible Verse “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).

Growing Closer to Jesus Children will n realize that it’s Jesus’ power which helps us, n understand that helping others is a way to serve Jesus, n help Pockets understand that we’re all servants, and n find ways to serve.

Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis

n Peter and John heal a lame man.

Acts 3:1-10

The east gate of the Temple is called the “Beautiful Gate” in the New Testament, most likely because it was the largest and most beautifully adorned gate into the walled city. The gate, funded by a wealthy Jew from Alexandria, Egypt, was made of premium bronze imported from Corinth in Greece. Being located on the eastern side of the city, it would have reflected the morning sun beautifully. The lame beggar in our passage positioned himself near the Beautiful Gate not because of its physical beauty but because of the sheer volume of people who entered the Temple by it each day. At least twice daily (the Dead Sea Scrolls and other sources suggest three times daily), religiously observant Jews would have used this main entrance on their way to prayer. Peter and John encountered him there at the time of the midday prayer (3 p.m.). Jesus had instructed his disciples to give generously to the needy. Peter and John were moved with compassion for the lame man, but had no money to give. Instead, they gave the man a gift beyond his wildest dreams—a healed body. Jesus had warned his disciples not to do good to the needy for public display (Matthew 6:1-4). Peter and John’s motives were pure: Note that they give glory to Jesus in Acts 3:6. But their deed nevertheless created quite a public response—again to the glory of Jesus, not to themselves.

Prayer • Read Acts 14:8-15. • Are you ever tempted to take credit for serving God? How can you avoid that temptation? • Pray: Lord, keep me humble in my service of you. Help me direct any and all praise to you and to remember that you are working through me.

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Before the Lesson n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed on the chart. n Make photocopies of the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your children. n Pray for the children in your class and for God’s direction as you teach the lesson.

This Lesson at a Glance What Children Will Do

Classroom Supplies

Welcome Time

Welcome!—Receive name tags, and be greeted by the teacher.

“Cross Name Tags” (p. 14), markers, safety pins or tape

Let’s Get Started

Option 1: Great Gate—Help

Building blocks, cardboard

Option 2: Leg Lifts—Use their

Pillows, blanket

Option 3: Hand Clappers—

Poster board, pencils, scissors, tape, craft sticks

Pick Up Our Toys—Sing a song as they pick up toys, and gather for Bible Story Time.

CD player

Setting the Stage—Run an unusual race, and learn what it’s like to be helped.

Brown paper grocery bags

Bible Song and Prayer Time—Sing a song, bring out the

Bible, construction paper, scissors, CD player, basket or box

Hear and Tell the Bible Story—Help tell a Bible story from

Bible, CD player, hand clappers from Option 3

Do the Bible Story—Play a game, sing an action song, and review the Bible story.

CD player

Unhappy Hopper—Encourage

Tennis shoes

Servant Song—Pray and sing

CD player

Direct children to one or more of the optional activities until everyone arrives.

Bible Story Time

Learning Lab Supplies

each other build an archway gate.

legs and feet to balance pillows.

Create hand clappers, and praise Jesus.

Bible, and pray together.

Acts 3:1-10.

Closing

Pockets to serve Jesus.

about serving Jesus.

*See the end of this lesson for extra-time ideas and supplies.

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Welcome Time SUPPLIES: “Cross Name Tags” (p. 14), markers, safety pins or tape • Bend down and make eye contact with children as they arrive. • Greet each child individually with an enthusiastic smile. • Thank each child for coming to class today. • As children arrive, ask them about last week’s “Today I Learned…” discussion. Use questions such as “What did you tell your family about Pentecost?” or “Who did you talk about Jesus with last week?” • Say: Today we’re going to learn that Jesus helps us serve him. • Hand out the cross name tags children made during Lesson 1, and help them attach the name tags to their clothing. If any name tags were damaged or if some of the children weren’t in class that week, have them make new name tags using the photocopiable handout. • Direct children to the Let’s Get Started activities you’ve set up.

Let’s Get Started Set up one or more of the following activities for children to do as they arrive. After you greet each child, invite him or her to choose an activity. Circulate among children to offer help as needed and to direct their conversation toward today’s lesson. Ask questions such as “How has someone helped you?” and “What’s it like to get a surprise gift?”

n Option 1: Great Gate SUPPLIES: building blocks, cardboard Set out building blocks, and encourage children to build an archway gate by making two stacks of blocks, placing a piece of cardboard across the top, and then placing a row of blocks on top of the cardboard. As children build, explain that they’ll hear a story today about something amazing that happened at the Temple gate. Point out that the Temple gate was similar to the gate they’re making, only much bigger. Tell children that Jesus helps us serve him, as they’ll discover in today’s Bible story.

For extra fun, provide cardboard boxes and duct tape, and let children create a giant gate. Use the structure for the “Hear the Bible Story” activity.

n Option 2: Leg Lifts SUPPLIES: blanket, pillows or small cushions Spread an old blanket in one corner of the room. Set a variety of pillows or small cushions on the blanket. As children arrive, invite them to remove their shoes and lie on their backs with their feet in the air. Let children practice balancing the pillows on their feet and doing tricks such as flipping and catching the pillows with their toes. Or have them use their feet and legs to pass pillows to their friends. As children play, make comments such as “Look at all the fun you can have with your feet and legs.” Explain that they’ll hear a Bible story about a man who couldn’t use his legs and how Peter and John, Jesus’ followers, helped the man. Tell children that helping others is a way to serve Jesus and that Jesus helps us serve him.

If girls are wearing dresses, encourage them to do pillow tricks while standing up. Have them pick up pillows with their toes, pass pillows to their friends with their feet, and flip pillows upside down.

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n Option 3: Hand Clappers For extra fun, let children draw jewelry on their hand shapes. Better yet, let them attach jewel stickers or sequins to the shapes.

If some children don’t choose to do Option 3, ask volunteers to make enough clappers for everyone in class. You’ll be using the hand clappers in the “Hear and Tell the Bible Story” activity.

SUPPLIES: poster board, pencils, tape, scissors, craft sticks Set out poster board, pencils, tape, scissors, and craft sticks. Invite children to create fun hand clappers. Have children each trace their hands on the poster board and then cut out the shapes. Demonstrate how to tape a craft stick to the back of each shape, and then clap two shapes together to clap their “hands.” As children work, tell them that they’ll hear a story about a time Peter and John served Jesus by healing a man who couldn’t walk. Explain that the man was so happy that he praised God again and again. Tell children that we can praise God just as the man in the story did. Allow children to clap their hand shapes; then put them aside to use during the Bible story. After everyone has arrived and you’re ready to move on to the Bible Story Time, encourage the children to finish what they’re doing and get ready to clean up.

n Pick Up Our Toys SUPPLIES: CD player Lead children in singing “Pick Up Our Toys” (track 2) with the CD to the tune of “Skip to My Lou.” Encourage children to sing along as they help clean up the room. If you want to include the names of all the children in the class, sing the song without the CD, and repeat the naming section. If you choose to use the CD, vary the names you use each week. track 2

We will pick up our toys. We will pick up our toys. We will pick up our toys, And put them all away. There’s [name] picking up toys. There’s [name] picking up toys. There’s [name] picking up toys, Putting them all away. (Repeat.)

Bible Story Time n Setting the Stage SUPPLIES: brown paper grocery bags Tell the children you’ll clap your hands to get their attention. Explain that when you clap, children are to stop what they’re doing, raise their hands, and focus on you. Encourage children to respond quickly so you’ll have time for all the fun activities you’ve planned.

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Have children choose partners and line up at one end of the room. Hand each pair of children a brown paper grocery bag. Say: Let’s have an unusual race. Stand next to your partner and lock arms. Then each partner will put one foot in the grocery bag. Pause for children to each put a foot in the bag. When I say “go,” walk with your partner to the other end of the room, tap the wall, and then return to the starting place. After children have returned to their places, ask: • Was this race hard or easy? Explain. (Hard, because our legs were in the bag; hard, because we had to walk together; easy, because we helped each other.) • How did you help each other get to the wall and back? (We held each other’s arms; we stepped at the same time.) • What would it be like to have people actually help you walk? (It would be hard; I wouldn’t like it.) Say: Not being able to use your legs would be hard, and you might need people to help you. Our Bible story today is about a man who had never taken a step in his whole life. He needed help from his friends, just as you each needed help in our race. Jesus helps us serve him, and today we’ll see how Peter served Jesus by helping the man who couldn’t walk.

During this lesson, be sensitive to any children with disabilities. Tailor activities and discussion to fit their level of comfort.

n Bible Song and Prayer Time SUPPLIES: Bible, construction paper, scissors, CD player, basket or box Before class, make surprise cards for this activity by track 3 cutting construction paper into 2x6-inch strips. Prepare a surprise card for each child plus a few extras for visitors. Fold the cards in half, and stamp the serving stamp inside one of the surprise cards. Place a marker at Acts 3:1-10 in the Bible you’ll be using. Have children sit in a circle. Say: Now it’s time to choose a Bible person to bring me the Bible marked with today’s Bible story. As we sing our Bible song, I’ll hand out surprise cards. Don’t look inside your surprise card until the song is over. Lead children in singing “Read God’s Book” (track 3) with the CD to the tune of “The Muffin Man.” As you sing, hand out the folded surprise cards. Now it’s time to read God’s book, Read God’s book, read God’s book. Now it’s time to read God’s book. Let’s hear a Bible story. (Repeat 3x.) After the song, say: You may look inside your surprise cards. The person who has the hand and heart stamped inside his or her card will be our Bible person for today. Identify the Bible person. Ask the Bible person to bring you the Bible. Lead the class in clapping for the Bible person, cheering, and making fun applause sound effects

If the ink pad is dry, moisten it with three to five drops of water.

Choose children to be the surprisecard collector, the Bible replacer (to put the Bible away), and the cheerleader (to encourage all kids to participate during the lesson). Just be sure to keep track of who fills your roles each week so each child gets a chance to feel special.

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by slapping your thighs with your palms. Help the Bible person open the Bible to the marked place, and show children where your story comes from. Then have the Bible person sit down. Say: [Name] was our special Bible person today. Each week we’ll have only one special Bible person, but each one of you is a special part of our class! Today we’re all learning that Jesus helps us serve him. Let’s say a special prayer now and ask God to help us learn that Jesus helps us serve him. I’ll pass around this basket. When the basket comes to you, put your surprise card in it and say, “Jesus, please help me serve you.” Pass around the basket or box. After you’ve collected all the surprise cards, set the basket aside, and pick up the Bible. Lead children in this prayer: God, thank you for the Bible and for all the stories in it. Teach us today that Jesus helps us serve him. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

n Hear and Tell the Bible Story

This Bible story is featured in My First Hands-On Bible™. Order several now for your ministry at group.com.

SUPPLIES: Bible, CD player, hand clappers from Option 3 Bring out the Bible Big Book: How Peter Served track 14 Jesus, and gather children in a circle on the floor. Have them hold their hand clappers from Option 3. Ask: • What’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen? Pause to allow children to tell their ideas. Hold up the Bible and say: The Bible tells us about many amazing things. Our story today is about how Peter served Jesus in a way that amazed a crowd of people and changed a man’s life. Our Bible story comes from the book of Acts, and the Bible Big Book shows us pictures of the story. You can help me tell the story. Each time you hear the name “Peter,” clap your hand clappers to celebrate how Peter served Jesus. Cue the CD to track 14, and open the book to page 1. Play the CD and follow along with the back cover text, turning the page when you hear the chime. At the end of page 3, turn off the CD player. Close the book, and have children place their hand clappers on the floor. Ask: • How did healing the crippled man serve Jesus? (People knew that Jesus healed him; Peter got to tell a crowd of people about Jesus; Peter showed Jesus’ love to the man who couldn’t walk.) • What are some ways you can serve Jesus this week? (Tell others about him; be nice to our families; go to church.) • What did the man do after he was healed? (He jumped and walked; he thanked God; he praised God.) • How can we praise and thank Jesus for what he does for us? (We can pray; we can tell other people how great Jesus is; we can sing him a song.)

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Open your Bible to Ephesians 2:10, and show children the verse. Say: We know the Bible is God’s Word. In Ephesians 2:10, the Bible says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” That means God made us so we can serve Jesus by loving others. Peter served Jesus by healing the man. He also served Jesus by telling the people in the crowd all about Jesus. We can serve Jesus in many ways, too. We can serve by praying and by helping others and by telling people about Jesus. Let’s clap our hand clappers once more to show how glad we are that Jesus helps us serve him. Pause while children clap their hand clappers. Set the Big Book and hand clappers aside. Make sure kids have written their names on their clappers.

n Do the Bible Story SUPPLIES: CD player Say: We’ll play a game that’s like our Bible story. Get into groups of three. Pause while children form their groups. Choose one person in your group to be the man who couldn’t walk. That person will lie at the far end of the room. The other two will be Peter and John and will stand at this end of the room. When I clap my hands, Peter and John may hop to the lame man and help him or her up. Then all three of you may lock arms and leap and jump back to the starting place. After the game is over, say: That was fun! You served the lame person and you were good at hopping and leaping! Ask: • What good things happened because Peter and John served Jesus? (The man walked again; the man jumped and praised God; other people got to hear about Jesus.) Say: Just as Peter and John served Jesus by helping the man at the Temple, we can serve Jesus, too. Let’s sing a song about Peter and John and how Jesus helps us serve him. Let’s form a standing circle. Lead children in singing “Peter and John” with the CD (track 15) to the tune of “This Old Man.” For added fun, do the accompanying motions. track 15

Peter and John went to pray (walk in a circle) At the Temple every day. (Kneel and fold hands.) On their way, they met a crippled man (sit in place); Healed his legs, and away he ran. (Leap up and jog around in a circle.) He praised God on that day. (Place hands over your heart.) Ev-ry-body heard him say (cup hands around mouth), “Thank you, God, that I can jump and run. (Leap and jog around in a circle.) I’ll praise your name to ev’ryone!” (Jog with hands in the air.)

It’s important to say the Bible Point just as it’s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point again and again will help the children remember it and apply it to their lives.

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Say: Isn’t it fun to sing and tell others about Jesus? Bring out the tinsel maraca from the Learning Lab. Have kids form a circle and crouch down. Show kids the tinsel maraca. Say: I’m going to let you take turns being the leader for a praise game. We’re going to use this tinsel maraca to help us know when to praise Jesus. Demonstrate the tinsel maraca briefly, so kids know what sound to expect. In just a minute I’m going give someone the tinsel maraca, and then I’ll name an action. If it’s something from our Bible story today, the person with the tinsel maraca should shake it really hard. If the rest of us agree that it’s from the story, we’ll jump up and down like the healed man in the Bible story did. When you hear me clap (clap three times), crouch down and get quiet. Let’s practice that. Sound the tinsel maraca and let kids jump up and down; then clap three times to have kids crouch down and get quiet. If what I say isn’t something from today’s story, we’ll be quiet as mice. Hand the tinsel maraca to a child and begin the game. After each statement, pass the tinsel maraca to the next person in the circle. Make statements such as the following: A crowd of people were sitting at the gate. (praise) Johnny went to Disneyland. (no response) Peter told people about Jesus. (praise) Stephen rode his bike around the block. (no response) A lame man was at the gate begging for money. (praise) My cat is soft and fluffy. (no reponse) This class is the best class ever! (no response) Peter gave the crippled man something better than money. (praise) Peter said, “Be healed in Jesus’ name!” (praise) The lame man jumped up and walked away. (praise) The man told others what Jesus had done for him. (praise) Jesus helps us serve others. (praise) Say: That was fun! Just as our game was fun, it’s fun to praise Jesus every day. Ask: • How can you praise Jesus this week? (I can sing at church; I can pray and thank him; I can tell someone else about him.) Say: Thanks for those answers. It’s fun to praise and serve Jesus! Let’s see what Pockets knows about praising Jesus. Place the tinsel maraca back in the Learning Lab.

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Closing n Unhappy Hopper SUPPLIES: tennis shoes Before class, put a pair of tennis shoes on Pockets. Bring out Pockets the Kangaroo. Go through the following script. After you finish the script, put Pockets out of sight.

Teacher:

Hi, Pockets. Do you have new shoes? I didn’t know kangaroos wore tennis shoes. Did you, children?

Pockets:

I thought my shoes could help me serve Jesus, but they don’t work.

Teacher: Pockets:

Your shoes don’t work?

Teacher: Pockets:

No. They don’t help me walk at all—all I can do is hop, hop, HOP! (Hops higher and higher.) But kangaroos are supposed to hop, Pockets. But if I don’t walk, I’ll never be able to serve Jesus! The man in the story today walked, didn’t he?

Teacher:

Oh, Pockets. I think you misunderstood. Children, let’s tell Pockets about the story we heard today and how we can all serve Jesus. (Encourage children to tell Pockets the Bible story. Lead them to repeat the Bible Point and tell Pockets different ways to serve Jesus. Help children point out that after the man was healed, he began leaping and praising God.)

Pockets: Teacher:

I can leap! Watch me! (Leaps very high in the air.)

Pockets:

(Laughing) That’s a real joy-jump, Pockets. You see, Jesus helps us serve him. It doesn’t matter if you walk or hop or sit quietly. You can serve Jesus in lots of ways. Wow! (Hops up and down.) Thanks for helping me understand that Jesus helps us serve him. Guess I don’t need silly ol’ tennis shoes now! (Tosses the shoes aside.) I’m so happy, I feel like jumping for joy! (Have Pockets hop away and out of sight of the children.)

Permission to photocopy this script from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® for Pre-K & K granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com

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n Servant Song SUPPLIES: CD player Have children sit in a circle. Say: Let’s end our time with a special song. But first, we’ll pass around the serving stamp and ink pad. When the stamp comes to you, tell one way you can serve Jesus this week, such as helping with a job at home or telling someone about Jesus. Then stamp your hand, and pass the stamp to the next person. After the stamp returns to you, lead children in singing “Great Big Things” (Ephesians 2:10) with the CD (track 16). If time permits, play the song several times so kids become familiar with the words and tune. track rack 16

Before God had made the stars, Before the trees in my back yard, God began a work of art; He knew us right there from the start. (Chorus) We’re God’s masterpiece. He created us To do good things he planned for us to do. Jesus made us new With great big things to do. We’re God’s masterpiece. We’ve got really, really, really, really, really great big things to do.

Before ABC and 1 2 3, God’s greatest masterpiece was me. ’Cause Jesus planned for us to be Doin’ great big things, yeah, really, really, really, really, really great big things. (Repeat chorus 2x.) “Great Big Things” (Ephesians 2:10) by Ben Glover. © 2004 Group Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

When you’re finished singing, have children join hands. Pray: Dear God, thank you for helping us serve Jesus in all we do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the “Today I Learned…’’ handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your children. Encourage parents to use the handout to plan meaningful family activities to reinforce this week’s topic.

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For Extra Time If you have a long class time or want to add additional elements to your lesson, try one of the following activities.

n Lively Learning: Sing Song Sing the song (without the CD) that children learned in the “Do the Bible Story” activity.

Peter and John went to pray (walk in a circle) At the Temple every day. (Kneel and fold hands.) On their way, they met a crippled man (sit in place); Healed his legs, and away he ran. (Leap up and jog around in a circle.) He praised God on that day. (Place hands over your heart.) Ev-ry-body heard him say (cup hands around mouth), “Thank you, God, that I can jump and run. (Leap and jog around in a circle.) I’ll praise your name to ev’ryone!” (Jog with hands in the air.) Remind children that couldn’t walk.

Jesus helps us serve him just as he helped Peter and John heal the man who

n Make to Take: Happy Hoppers Before this activity, make copies of a “Happy Hopper” pattern similar to the one shown here on green paper. Set out scissors and crayons. Hand out the hopper papers, and let children cut out the frog shapes. Show children how to accordion-fold the legs. Have children draw mouths on the frogs with crayons. Allow children to have fun helping their hoppers “leap” around the room. Point out that we help puppets move just as Jesus helps us serve him.

n Treat to Eat: Jump-for-Joy Corn Bring a hot-air corn popper or electric corn popper to class. Spread a clean bedsheet on the floor, and gather children around the edge of the sheet. Let the class watch as the popcorn pops onto the sheet. Point out that the popcorn jumps up and down just like the man whose legs were healed. Hand each child a paper cup filled with popcorn. Remind children that Jesus helps us serve him, and when we serve Jesus, we feel like jumping for joy, too. As children eat their snacks, encourage them to retell the Bible story.

n Story Picture: Peter and John Heal a Lame Man Hand each child a photocopy of the “Today I Learned…” handout. Set out glue sticks and small 1/2x3-inch paper strips. Invite children to color the picture. Then help them accordion-fold the paper strips into bouncy legs. Glue the legs onto the picture of the man jumping for joy. As children work, ask what they think the man did after he could walk. Since Jesus helps us serve him, how do they think the man served Jesus?

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Lesson 10 Today your child learned that Jesus helps us serve him. Children learned that a lame man asked for help and that Peter and John healed him in Jesus’ name. They talked about the importance of serving Jesus.

Verse to Learn

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).

Ask Me…

l How did Peter and John help the man who couldn’t

Jesus helps us serve him. Family Fun

l Help your child make pretend crutches or a cane from

wood scraps or old broom handles. As your child tries out the crutches, talk about how the lame man in the story felt before and after he was healed. Talk about the fact that anyone can serve Jesus because he helps us find ways to serve him.

walk? l How can you serve Jesus? l What are ways our family can serve each other?

Peter and John Heal a Lame Man (Acts 3:1-10)

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Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Pre-K & K granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com